CNN is claiming Washington may finalize plans to send the Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine. However, what CNN doesn’t say is just as important:
– The US says it will send the missiles in days after the decision is made;
– It takes MONTHS to train crews to operate the Patriot missile system;
– NATO personnel will likely operate the missile system posing as Ukrainians;
– The Patriot missile system is suffering a global missile shortage; – Lockheed will double missile production but it will take years to do so;
– Both current and future production numbers CANNOT match the number of cruise missiles alone Russia is producing per month;
– Russia is also using Iskander missiles, Geran-2 drones, as well as a number of inert decoys which will place even more pressure on Ukrainian air defenses;
– The performance of Patriot missile systems in Saudi Arabia has been poor;
– Patriot missiles will face more sophisticated and more numerous threats in Ukraine than in Saudi Arabia;
References:
FT – Military briefing: escalating air war depletes Ukraine’s weapons stockpile: https://www.ft.com/content/fbd6dc6e-4…
CNN – Exclusive: US finalizing plans to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/13/po…
Al Jazeera – Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1…
WSJ – U.S. Sends Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia, Fulfilling Urgent Request: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-send…
Defense News – Lockheed to double Patriot missile production as orders explode: https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018…
NYT – Russian Cruise Missiles Were Made Just Months Ago Despite Sanctions: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/us…
NYT – Russia Is Using Old Ukrainian Missiles Against Ukraine, General Says: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/wo…
NBC News – Why U.S. Patriot missiles failed to stop drones and cruise missiles attacking Saudi oil sites: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion…
Ukraine: Catastrophic Losses, Failing Wonder Weapons, NATO Escalation